MLB Player News

Ashcraft will open the season in the Reds' bullpen, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Ashcraft was stretched out this spring as a potential starting option, but he will begin the season in a bullpen role. It's possible he will still get a look as a starting pitcher again down the line, but Ashcraft's repertoire might be better suited for the bullpen, anyway.

Abbott (shoulder) will begin the season on the injured list, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Abbott was able to make his spring debut Monday after spending most of camp working through the same shoulder issue that put an early end to his 2024 campaign. He was able to go three innings during his first spring start, but the Reds will send him to the 15-day IL at the start of the season to ensure he has enough time to build up his workload -- ideally to around five frames. While Abbott is out, Carson Spiers will serve as the fifth member of Cincinnati's rotation.

Spiers will open the season as the Reds' fifth starter, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

It could be temporary until Andrew Abbott (shoulder) is ready, but Spiers will have at least a couple starts to convince the Reds he should remain in the rotation. The right-hander has had a strong showing this spring, collecting a 2.70 ERA and 10:4 K:BB across 10 frames.

Irvin averaged 91.4 mph with his fastball during Wednesday's Grapefruit League start against the Cardinals, down significantly from the 93.8 mph he averaged in 2024, but he said after the game he felt fine, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

The Nationals allowed the right-hander to build up to 91 pitches (64 strikes), so even though the results weren't pretty -- six runs allowed on 10 hits, including two home runs, over 5.2 innings -- the team would seem to share Irvin's confidence in his fitness. "No, we would've definitely taken him out [if we thought he was dealing with a health issue]," manager Dave Martinez said after the game. "But he said he felt great. He said nothing to worry about. He's tinkering. One, he's throwing the slider, he's throwing the cutter, so his fastball was just a little off." Irvin had been pitching fairly well this spring prior to the blowup, and he still has a 3.86 ERA through 16.1 innings after Wednesday, albeit with a lackluster 9:8 K:BB. He's expected to get one more turn during the exhibition schedule before starting the second game of the season for the Nats on March 29 against the Phillies.

Peterson gave up two hits and three walks over five scoreless innings in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against Houston. He struck out four.

Peterson continued a stingy spring that has seen him post a 0.57 ERA and 12:7 K:BB through 15.2 innings. The 29-year-old lefty has a rotation spot locked up due to Sean Manaea (oblique) and Frankie Montas (lat) being set to begin the season on the IL, and Peterson is expected to make his first start of 2025 on March 31 in Miami.

Schwellenbach gave up two hits and a walk over six scoreless innings while striking out 10 in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.

The right-hander built up to 78 pitches (57 strikes) in a dominant outing against a Yankees lineup that featured Aaron Judge, Austin Wells and a bunch of bench players and minor leaguers. The level of competition doesn't take away from Schwellenbach's performance though, as he didn't even allow a runner to reach second base. With Opening Day on the horizon, Schwellenbach seems more than ready, having posted a 2.41 ERA and eye-popping 26:2 K:BB through 18.2 Grapefruit League innings.

Gomber (shoulder) will begin the season on the 15-day injured list, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.

Gomber is recovering well from left shoulder soreness, but he's made just one appearance this spring and that was back on Feb. 25. The left-hander is expected to be ready to rejoin the Rockies' rotation early on in the season. Colorado will operation with a four-man rotation until Gomber is ready.

Dollander is likely to begin the season in the Triple-A Albuquerque rotation, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.

Dollander has trended up in his last two Cactus League starts, throwing a combined 7.2 scoreless innings with a 10:4 K:BB. However, he yielded 10 runs (nine earned) and walked five over 6.2 frames in his first three outings, and the Rockies evidently think he could use a little more seasoning in the minors. While Dollander appears headed to Albuquerque for now, he remains a good bet to spend a large chunk of the 2025 campaign in the Rockies' rotation.

The Diamondbacks are fielding interest from other teams about a possible trade involving Montgomery, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports reports.

Montgomery, who got a late start to Cactus League action due to a strained finger, made his second spring start Wednesday, throwing 40 pitches. He allowed three hits and one walk while striking out two over 2.2 scoreless innings. It was an encouraging outing that could lead to further interest as teams set rosters for Opening Day. The left-hander is competing with Brandon Pfaadt and Ryne Nelson for the final spot in Arizona's rotation. Whatever happens, Montgomery will get one more Cactus League outing to build up his pitch count and could be ready for the first week of the regular season, if he's pitching at the back end of the rotation or if a team uses an off day to get by with four starters.

Walker took the loss in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees after giving up six runs (three home runs) on nine hits and two walks with just one strikeout in 3.2 innings, but Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia believes the right-hander could play a meaningful role to open the season.

With Ranger Suarez dealing with mild back stiffness, it's become uncertain whether he'll be ready for the start of the regular season. If Suarez is unable to make his first turn in the rotation or needs to begin the campaign on the injured list, Walker is the next man up on the depth chart to fill his spot. The right-hander is in line to get one more start this spring, and regardless of role, he's all but guaranteed to make the Opening Day roster despite carrying 6.92 ERA and 1.69 WHIP with six punchouts over 13 frames in exhibition play. Walker's name has been previously mentioned in trade rumors, but a deal seems unlikely at this point given Suarez's injury and the remaining two years and $36 million left on Walker's contract.